Apple Working On A Thinner MacBook For Release In Late 2014 / Early 2015

A new report suggests that Apple is planning to add to its MacBook line-up in the near future, although doesn’t offer specifics on when said notebook will actually release. Apparently, the thinner MacBook Air, which may also be Retina-fied, may emerge either late this year or early next, and given how svelte the current model already is, it’ll be interesting to see if and how Apple manages to shave anything off.

The report emerges from DigiTimes, which is famously hit-and-miss with such predictions, and as such, we’re treating it with a pinch of salt. After all, it’s not like rumors of a Retina MacBook Air haven’t been prevalent since, well… the emergence of the Retina MacBook Pro two years ago, and even though the notion of this sharper-displaying Air has been particularly unshakeable in 2014, we’re still keeping an open mind at this point.

It has long since been suspected that Intel’s 14nm Broadwell Core M processor, which is, in fact, fanless, will make its way to a Retina MacBook Air in due course, and with the chip maker likely to permit the Cupertino to snap up the first batch, it’s at least possible that this elusive new MacBook Air will make it out before the year’s end.

As well as being highly energy efficient and fanless, Intel’s new processing technology is also more compact, meaning that Apple’s already-sleek line-up could downsize further. Any decision to make the MacBook Air any thinner will probably be met with a fair dose of opposition, though, particularly given that some consumers and commentators alike would favor more battery and more USB connection ports, for example, over portability and overall thinness.

When we first clapped eyes on the MacBook Pro with Retina display back in 2012, we naturally assumed that the Air would follow suit. But despite the fact that the entire iOS device range now benefits from the higher resolution, the Air – for all of its qualities – still lags behind in this key area.

With a redesigned profile and other perks including a buttonless trackpad, there’s plenty to look forward to of the next-gen MacBook Air if reports are to be believed, and should any further details emerge, you’ll get the low-down here at Redmond Pie.